Some of you may have read my drivel about a recently purchased 11 Bore (turns out it is actually a 10 Bore - even thought the seller's ticket said 11 Bore) muzzle loading shotgun.
I have never loaded one of these buggers, much less fired one. However, the seller was kind enough to include all the bits and bobs with the sale, and so I was, (if not prepared) good to go.
This morning (at -5c) saw me driving across the Home Counties to accept the kind invitation of a friend, to be his guest , and share his peg, on the last shoot of their season.
Sadly, it is also the last shoot of this particular syndicate. The land has new owners and the old syndicate is off. As are the stalkers. Sad day really.
Any hoo.
I park in the yard and shake hands with all the Beaters - I used to beat on this shoot for many years, and it is nice to catch up with old faces - probably for the last time.
Off I trot, with my 'bang stick' under my arm. The Keeper's face drops when he sees my gun.
"That bloody thing will scare the birds - it's too loud".
Having never fired it before, I am in no position to argue the toss. My host, soothes the Keeper's furrowed brow, and 'normal service' is resumed.
The usual briefing has an unusual warning for everyone. That there may be two shots taken after the whistle to mark the end of each drive. Puzzled faces all round. My host explains that being a muzzle loader, that is the only way to 'unload' at the end of each drive. I see the Keeper's brow re-furrow.
Running round the barn is an 'unusual dog' to see on any shoot - a Pembroke Corgi. Looks mighty like a fox to me...
Inside the barn is a welcome hot beverage, and an egg and bacon butty. The drinks are served in china that is better than my "Sunday best' china at home.
Outside the barn, you cannot fail to see one of the regulars. A big man, carrying a radio (so he must be important) and driving a fantastic off-road truck, which doubles as the Game Cart.
The contents of the this vehicle, are a motley crew if ever I saw one.
Eventually, we peel off, to drive towards the first peg. It is cold and a wee bit frosty. It is my favourite kind of weather to shoot in.
The plan is that I will load up the old girl - takes me about five minutes - take the first couple of shots, and then my Host takes over with his 'proper'; shotgun.
If I can manage to re-load in time, I get to step back into the frame.
And that is how the day progressed.
My host has taken some rather good photos of the Muzzle Loader in action. I shall of course add them to this Post when he sends them across to me.
At the end of the day, the regular guns had a magnificent dinner lined up. I was given an invite to join them by my Host; but this was their "Last Supper" and I did not want to intrude, and so in that immortal line, "I made my excuses and left"...
It will be a long night for them. Four or five of them have booked rooms at the local Pub (about 500 yards) - they will do well to make it there.
And so, I am forced to leave you 'hanging', because the photos will show, more eloquently that I can ever scribe, how the rest of the day went.
I am up early after the deer in the morning, and then a walked-up day on 'my shoot'.
I have invited a young man as my guest, who has never shot game before. I am looking forward to seeing he enjoys his day.
He will be borrowing one of my shotguns, and I will be - once again - giving the muzzle loader a day out.
Can't do any worse than today...surely?
I have never loaded one of these buggers, much less fired one. However, the seller was kind enough to include all the bits and bobs with the sale, and so I was, (if not prepared) good to go.
This morning (at -5c) saw me driving across the Home Counties to accept the kind invitation of a friend, to be his guest , and share his peg, on the last shoot of their season.
Sadly, it is also the last shoot of this particular syndicate. The land has new owners and the old syndicate is off. As are the stalkers. Sad day really.
Any hoo.
I park in the yard and shake hands with all the Beaters - I used to beat on this shoot for many years, and it is nice to catch up with old faces - probably for the last time.
Off I trot, with my 'bang stick' under my arm. The Keeper's face drops when he sees my gun.
"That bloody thing will scare the birds - it's too loud".
Having never fired it before, I am in no position to argue the toss. My host, soothes the Keeper's furrowed brow, and 'normal service' is resumed.
The usual briefing has an unusual warning for everyone. That there may be two shots taken after the whistle to mark the end of each drive. Puzzled faces all round. My host explains that being a muzzle loader, that is the only way to 'unload' at the end of each drive. I see the Keeper's brow re-furrow.
Running round the barn is an 'unusual dog' to see on any shoot - a Pembroke Corgi. Looks mighty like a fox to me...
Inside the barn is a welcome hot beverage, and an egg and bacon butty. The drinks are served in china that is better than my "Sunday best' china at home.
Outside the barn, you cannot fail to see one of the regulars. A big man, carrying a radio (so he must be important) and driving a fantastic off-road truck, which doubles as the Game Cart.
The contents of the this vehicle, are a motley crew if ever I saw one.
Eventually, we peel off, to drive towards the first peg. It is cold and a wee bit frosty. It is my favourite kind of weather to shoot in.
The plan is that I will load up the old girl - takes me about five minutes - take the first couple of shots, and then my Host takes over with his 'proper'; shotgun.
If I can manage to re-load in time, I get to step back into the frame.
And that is how the day progressed.
My host has taken some rather good photos of the Muzzle Loader in action. I shall of course add them to this Post when he sends them across to me.
At the end of the day, the regular guns had a magnificent dinner lined up. I was given an invite to join them by my Host; but this was their "Last Supper" and I did not want to intrude, and so in that immortal line, "I made my excuses and left"...
It will be a long night for them. Four or five of them have booked rooms at the local Pub (about 500 yards) - they will do well to make it there.
And so, I am forced to leave you 'hanging', because the photos will show, more eloquently that I can ever scribe, how the rest of the day went.
I am up early after the deer in the morning, and then a walked-up day on 'my shoot'.
I have invited a young man as my guest, who has never shot game before. I am looking forward to seeing he enjoys his day.
He will be borrowing one of my shotguns, and I will be - once again - giving the muzzle loader a day out.
Can't do any worse than today...surely?
Last edited:
